Preventing Bioterrorism
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) discusses with the U.S. Congress issues related to the
Health
Pandemics
A pandemic is an outbreak of an infectious disease that spreads across a large region,
Zimbabwe Cholera Epidemic – 2008-2009
In 2008, Zimbabwe’s suffering people had a glimmer of hope to lighten the dark decades
China Baby Milk Scandal – 2008
A parent’s worst nightmare came true for thousands of families in China in 2008 when
Ivory Coast Waste Dumping – 2006
The multinational company Trafigura did a nifty deal in 2006, buying a large amount of
Northwick Park Drug Trial – 2006
In March 2006 six healthy men, all under the age of 40, signed up as
SARS Virus – 2002-2003
Towards the end of 2002 reports began to emerge from China of a virulent and
African Meningitis Outbreak – 1996-1997
Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection of the slender lining that envelops the spinal cord
Zaragoza Radiotherapy Accident – 1990
When the Zaragoza Clinic’s electron accelerator malfunctioned and was repaired in early December 1990, it
BSE and vCJD
In scientific terms Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) are Transmissible Spongiform
Goiânia Accident – 1987
Nothing goes to waste where people are living on the breadline, and few opportunities to
AIDS Pandemic – 1980 to present
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when the AIDS epidemic began. The first death assumed
Spanish Toxic Oil Syndrome – 1981
It started with the death of eight-year-old Jaime Garcia in his mother’s arms on the
Tainted Blood on the NHS – 1973
Described as ‘the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS’, the tainted ‘Hemofil’
Iraqi Seed Grain Poisoning – 1971-1972
After a series of disastrous harvests in the late 1960s, Saddam Hussein applied for an
Thalidomide – 1959-1969
Images of the effects of Thalidomide are firmly etched into the public consciousness. What was
The Cutter Incident – 1955
Poliomyelitis is a peculiarly nasty, highly contagious disease of the central nervous system that all
Minamata Disease – 1932-1968
Doctors first noticed something strange in the Japanese coastal town of Minimata towards the end
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